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Father James E. Goode, O.F.M., who served as guardian of St. Clare’s Friary in Manhattan and president of the National Black Clergy Caucus, died March 4. He was 81.
He most recently resided at Mary Manning Walsh Home in Manhattan and had been seriously ill for some time, according to the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception in Manhattan, of which Father Goode was a member.
For many years Father Goode was pastoral director of the Solid Ground Franciscan Ministry at St. Clare’s Friary, a Franciscan evangelization ministry with African-American families. He received many awards and proclamations.
He preached more than 300 Black Catholic revivals and convocations, and in 1989 founded the National Day of Prayer for the African-American Family.
The occasion, now called the National Day of Prayer for the African-American and African Family, is commemorated on the first Sunday of February as part of the archdiocesan Black History Month Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Brother Tyrone A. Davis, C.F.C., executive director of archdiocesan Black Ministry, told CNY Father Goode “was a giant in the Church who over the years had become extremely significant to so many people. He made everyone feel special.”
Father Gregory Chisholm, S.J., a former pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Harlem, said, "As a preacher Jim was extremely effective…Most people found listening to him enjoyable. For African American Catholics this was particularly true in that Jim would present for the black Catholic listener a preaching style that drew from our unique Christian cultural roots in this country, while remaining faithful to and encouraging of Catholic tradition whenever he spoke.”
Father Goode ministered at St. Charles Borromeo on weekends for a number of years until the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A statement from the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception said, “He is best remembered for his many years of service to the African-American community. He was known as the Dean of Black Catholic Preachers and was recognized internationally as a missionary and evangelist.”
Father Goode also served as president of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life. In 2004, he was honored with the Brother Joseph Davis, S.M., Award at a joint conference of Black Catholic clergy and religious in Houston.
Born in Roanoke, Va., he entered the Franciscans in 1967, studied theology at St. Anthony-on-the-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, and made his final vows in 1973. He was ordained a priest in 1972 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Manhattan.
He was adopted at 3 months of age by Robert D. and Lula Bell Young. After attending Roanoke Catholic High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He attended Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut and was admitted into the formation program at the Franciscan Province in Troy.
His first assignment was as a faculty member in McKeesport, Pa., and he served as pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church in San Francisco, and Our Lady of Charity Church in Brooklyn. He also served as provincial definitor, secretary of missions and evangelization, and Franciscan Missionary Union promoter.
A Funeral Mass is planned at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 155 Sullivan St. in Manhattan. Burial will be private in Roanoke.
